Fit tip: Get enough water

A: Your water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live. Water is your body’s principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Lack of water can lead to dehydration; even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.

So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? A common recommendation is to drink six or eight 8-ounce glasses of water or other fluid every day. But some adults might need more or less, depending on how healthy they are, how much they exercise, and how hot and dry the climate is.

The easiest way to know if you’re drinking enough fluid is to look at the color of your urine. If you’re drinking enough water, your urine will be clear or pale yellow. A darker yellow means you aren’t drinking enough water; drink more!

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